Global Project Management, Purchasing and Business Practices Leader

SUSANNE C. ORCHARD

***** ********* ***** – Plymouth, Michigan 48170

Home: 734-***-****, *********@***.***, Cell: 734-***-****

Passionate, results-oriented leader with proven results in establishing and managing global purchasing, project management and process improvement organizations in the automotive industry. Skilled in developing performing global organizations from the ground up including necessary processes, people skills and enabling technology. Consistently promoted to positions with increased responsibility. Over 18 years automotive and 12 years of international experience. Multilingual, with fluency in English, German and fair knowledge in French.

Additional expertise and experience in:

Project Management

> $6 Billion Purchasing Spend

Global Purchasing Strategies & Supplier Quality Mgt

Global Business Strategies & Continuous Process Improvement

Global Quality Operating Systems

Organization & Employee Development

SELECT CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• Established a comprehensive purchasing business strategy in 2007, including the launch of new global purchasing systems in 2007.

• Developed and implemented a comprehensive product development system and project management methodology at Visteon, increasing project launch readiness by 89% from 2003 to 2004.

• Improved operating performance though the creation and implementation of a global business operating system at Visteon in 2003-2005.

• Delivered 9.3 % material cost efficiencies on an annual purchasing spend of $2.6 billion in 1999-2000 at Visteon through implementation of global purchasing strategies and a cross-functional, collaborative material review board process.

• Accomplished a reduction of supplier defective parts per million of 68% in 1999 across 900+ suppliers with an additional >18% reduction in 2000 at Visteon.

• Achieved increased quarter to quarter profitability improvement exceeding the business plan managing the on-line bidding business entity at Covisint through re-structuring and cost reduction actions in 2002.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

ARVIN MERITOR, Troy, Michigan, Present

ArvinMeritor, Inc. is a premier global supplier of a broad range of integrated systems, modules and components to the motor vehicle industry, serving light vehicle, commercial truck, trailer and specialty original equipment manufacturers and certain aftermarkets.

Business Integration Management, Chassis Systems (10/07-Present)

• Responsible for business development and the implementation of restructuring and improvement projects in line with the divisions strategic business plan.

VISTEON CORPORATION, Van Buren Township, Michigan, 2003- 2007

Visteon Corporation is an $ 8.8 billion Tier 1 automotive supplier of climate, interior and electronics products to the Original Equipment Manufacturers.

Purchasing Business Strategy & Tools, Global Business Practices (10/05-06/07)

• Established a purchasing business strategy focusing on strategic sourcing for the newly established Purchasing environment.

• Developed new global purchasing systems for supplier, spend, quote and contract management, launching in 2007.

• Built an IT tools strategy to align strategic IT tools with Visteon’s business goals and processes, and implemented nine (9) strategic business tools projects under budget.

Global Director Process Leadership and Project Management (02/03 – 10/05)

Leading a global process leadership organization to enable a performing business operating system in addition to the global project management office, reporting to the Senior VP & CIO.

• Established a global project management organization with offices in the United States & Asia Pacific, Europe and South America in 2003.

• Strengthened project management capabilities through development, deployment and training of project management processes and disciplines improving project launch readiness by 89%.

• Developed an in-house project management training program, training 3,599 attendees in 10 months achieving 98.7% training content meeting training objectives.

• Delivered and continuously improved the business operating system achieving global certification to ISO/TS16949: 2002 without concerns.

• Integrated Six Sigma methods and tools into Visteon’s base manufacturing and product development systems as a problem solving and product / process improvement approach.

COVISINT, Southfield, Michigan, 2002-2003

Covisint is a global e-Business exchange for the automotive industry. It is a central hub where OEMs and suppliers of all sizes come together to do business in a single business environment using standardized practices and common tools.

Director Solutions Marketing – Sourcing Solutions (11/02 – 02/03)

Responsible for all Covisint direct material sourcing solutions managing product marketing, solutions selling, sales engineering, strategic sourcing processes and product strategy.

Director Procurement Strategies – Strategic Sourcing & Services Business Unit (4/02 – 11/02)

Managed the on-line bidding strategic business entity and developed a strategic sourcing function for e-sourcing services and tools.

• Achieved increased profitability quarter to quarter above business plan objectives through re-structuring and cost reduction actions for the on-line bidding business entity.

• Developed and implemented on-line bidding services and processes to increase the effectiveness of e-sourcing tools.

• Established customer proposals for e-sourcing tools for OEM/s and suppliers.

VISTEON CORPORATION, Allen Park, Michigan, 1997- 2002

Director Materials Management – Program Purchasing (04/01-04/02)

Leading 150 employees in a newly established position as a result of Visteon's restructuring to become a customer facing organization, responsible for the development of a project management function for purchase parts.

• Managed a $6 billion purchase parts spend for all products for North America and Mexico.

• Developed a purchasing project management function with processes and procedures managing purchase parts to program cost, quality, delivery and technology targets for new model projects for Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Ford, General Motors and Daimler Chrysler in North America and Mexico.

• Created and implemented an advanced supplier quality development function.

• Acted as Lean Champion implementing lean thinking and value stream mapping for continuous process improvement of Materials Management processes.

Purchasing Manager - Interior/Exterior & Electronic Systems Division (5/98 – 3/01)

Directed 60 employees with the responsibility for $2.6 billion annual buy for instrument panel, console, electronics, door trim, seating, bumper, exterior trim, lighting components and raw materials. In 1999 the purchasing responsibilities increased from a $1.3 billion annual spend and leading 21 employees to include all electronics and exterior products with the expansion of the Interior Systems division to Interior/Exterior & Electronics division.

• Delivered 3.75% material cost efficiencies in 1998, 5.1% in 1999 and 4.2% in 2000 through the implementation of global purchasing strategies and a cross-functional, collaborative material review board process.

• Implemented a collaborative supplier cost savings program delivering supplier design savings of 2.5-4% per annum and strengthened the Purchasing, supplier and Engineering relationships.

• Implemented a minority sourcing process, which increased competitive minority sourcing by 28% compared to an objective of 12%.

• Implemented a quality roadmap process and conducted reviews with non performing suppliers reducing supplier defective parts per million (PPM) by 68% in 1999 across 900+ suppliers with an additional 18% PPM reduction in 2000.

• Managed the first Visteon Supplier Symposium in Japan to communicate Visteon's strategy, quality, cost and delivery expectations to senior executives in Japan to strengthen relationships with key suppliers, which resulted in better delivery performance and establishment of several long-term contracts.

• Acted as a 6 Sigma Champion for purchasing projects.

• Co-chaired the divisional and cross-divisional supply personnel development committee for management role employees.

Manager Supply Base Improvement - Supply and Logistics (09/97 - 04/98)

• Directed a management level team to lead the communication and information exchange for Visteon and its supply base, including the development of a Visteon Supplier Council to foster dialogue and process improvements.

• Developed and implemented the purchasing policies and procedures manual for the newly established Visteon organization.

FORD MOTOR COMPANY – AUTOMOTIVE COMPONENT DIVISION, Dearborn, Michigan, 1995- 1997

Manager New Model Launch and New Emerging Markets - ACD Purchasing (10/96 - 08/97)

• Led a team of 11 managers, buyers and analysts in managing the timely launch for all ACD purchase parts for new program launches. Established suppliers on direct data link for purchase part timing and implemented an early supplier involvement and early sourcing target process.

• Controlled and managed the ACD purchasing budget and procedures.

• Established a supply base for ACD Thailand and China facilities and developed local self-sufficient supply offices.

Purchasing Supervisor, Plastic Trim Operations, Exterior Plastics (02/95 - 09/96)

Responsible for $600 million annual buy as manager for fuel tank, bumper, exterior trim and lighting components, leading 5 employees.

FORD MOTOR COMPANY OF GERMANY, Cologne, Germany, 1989- 1995

Buyer Complete Seats (09/92 - 01/95)

• Managed $400 million annual buy of complete seat systems for cross European Escort and Fiesta vehicle programs and successfully negotiated complete seat systems prices to program targets for Escort and Fiesta programs.

Program Timing Analyst, Production Purchasing (03/92 - 08/92)

• Managed the timely launch for all purchase parts for the European Mondeo vehicle start of production.

Buyer Assistant Metals, Production Purchasing (03/91 - 02/92)

Material Analyst, Material Planning Release & Follow-up (03/90 - 02/91)

Buyer Assistant, Special Vehicle Operations Purchasing (03/89 - 02/90)

EDUCATION:

Bachelor’s Degree - Diploma Graduate Business Management (Economics - Business Administration),

Cologne University, Germany (09/89 - 01/93)

Associate of Applied Science Degree (Business Administration), Chamber of Industry and Commerce,

Cologne, Germany (09/86 - 02/89)

Ministry of Education, Science and Research, State of North Rhine Westphalia – Geschwister-Scholl-Schule (Gymnasium) (General Arts and Sciences - High school diploma and one semester of undergraduate study),

Pulheim, Germany (09/77-06/86)

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